Occupy Wall Street’s Success: Even Republicans Are Talking About Income Inequality

As ThinkProgress’ Zaid Jilani cataloged earlier this month, the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations have helped shift media coverage away from conservative concerns about the federal debt and deficit to the more progressive (and important) issues of unemployment and unequal income distribution.

Now, the 99 Percent Movement’s influence on the wider political landscape is becoming clear. According to a new poll from The Hill, the majority of likely voters now say “income inequality has become a big problem for the country,” and “majorities across practically all income levels, and all political, philosophical and racial lines agreed that the middle class is being reduced.” Nearly seven-in-ten respondents said the current tax system — which a recent Congressional Budget Office report said is partially responsible for income inequality — is “unfair.”

Income inequality, a cause of liberal economists and pundits, is working its way into the discourse of Republicans on Capitol Hill. [...]

So rather than ignore the disparity — and risk looking out of touch — Republicans are acknowledging income inequality. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is discussing it; House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has talked about wealth disparity; and rank-and-file Republicans have started to lace the phrase into talks and interviews.

While critics deride the Occupy Wall Street protests for lacking clear policy goals or accomplishments, if the movement accomplishes nothing beyond fundamentally shifting the political discourse away from trumped up fears about the debt to real issues like inequality and jobs, then it’s already succeeded.